A city's first Liberal Democrat mayor hopes to give a boost to the city's army of volunteers.

Former police officer Ray Gibbon, of Witton Gilbert, County Durham, became Durham's first citizen when he accepted the office at the city council's annual meeting yesterday.

He and his wife, Margaret, will represent the city at civic functions and will raise money for Durham Volunteers Bureau.

The aim of the bureau, in Millennium Place, is to match people with the charities and organisations that need their help.

Councillor Gibbon, who gave 29 years' service to the Durham and Northumbria forces, has been a member of the city council and Witton Gilbert Parish Council for 12 years and is a Durham Citizens Advice Bureau volunteer.

His deputy is former teacher Mary Hawgood, who has served on the council for 12 years. She founded St Cuthbert's Hospice and recently launched a group for people in constant pain.

Tributes were paid to the hard work and dedication of outgoing mayor, Labour councillor Eileen Rochford, and her partner, Barry Grimes, and to her deputy, Joe Knight, and his wife, Joyce. Councillor Knight had been in line to become mayor but was one of the Labour victims of the landslide LibDem victory.

Councillor Pitts pledged that from next year, in a break from the past, the mayor would be chosen on merit and not political affiliation.

Councillor Rochford said it had been a great privilege and honour to serve the city as her father Michael had done.

Her charity appeal has raised thousands for the Butterwick Children's Hospice and Round Table Children's Wish.